The Mets just announced that Zack Wheeler has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will likely need season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Wheeler will travel to New York City today to confirm the diagnosis and discuss his next steps with team orthopedist Dr. David Altchek, but Tommy John surgery is the standard treatment for a torn UCL.
This is a devastating blow to the team.
Two days ago the Mets didn’t even want to send him for an MRI and both Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins have maintained this was no big deal and MRI was just routine.
Elbow discomfort is never routine.
Wheeler, 24, went 11-11 with a 3.54 ERA in 32 starts for the Mets last season.
Wheeler says that several times in the second half of last season, he told the Mets that he was experiencing elbow discomfort , but aside from skipping a few bullpens, he never missed any game starts.
Dillon Gee is suddenly back in the rotation as your fifth starter, and who knows, maybe the Mets now consider Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz as options sooner rather than later.
March 15
Terry Collins told reporters that Zack Wheeler had an MRI on Saturday. This morning, Sandy Alderson said that the MRI results came back and are now being sent to Dr. Altchek in New York at team doctor’s request.
Wheeler revealed on Saturday that he was dealing with an elbow issue during the offseason, and that it was enough of a concern the team brought him to New York to have him examined.
“There was certainly one point during the offseason where we had him up in New York to take another look,” Alderson said.
Beat writers are reporting that the level of concern about Wheeler’s elbow seems to be growing.
Finally, Alderson announced that Dillon Gee is now scheduled to start on Mar. 19 which suggests that Wheeler will now miss a second start.
“This possibility, or something like it, has been probably a reason we’ve been hesitant to trade pitching,” Alderson said. “This is what happens. Guys are going down all over the place.”
Alderson said the MRI, the exam, skipping starts, is all standard protocol and he remains unconcerned.
